My Prezi Slideshow

Hey everyone!  I am currently taking an Advanced Media class right now, and would like to share something I made for one of my assignments.  Our assignment was to make a presentation slideshow using a program called Prezi.  Prezi is a web-based presentation application and storytelling tool that uses a single canvas instead of slides.  This is somewhat similar to PowerPoint, but think of it as a program that is on "steroids."

For my presentation, I compiled 10 things that I wanted to share about my fitness style with the class.  Let me know what you think!

Please allow time for the images to load on the screen.  It can be kind of slow sometimes.

Lifestyle or Hobby? My Fitness Style on Prezi

Harmful Supplements: Pressure on Athletes

I recently just posted about helpful supplements for people of all ages, but the one thing I did not really touch base on is the harmful products out there on the market.  As a request from Jane, I decided to look more into this matter.  

This is actually a very good topic to bring up while we are on the subject.  As an athlete coming into college, I faced so much pressure to become the best I could be.  I was relatively small coming in as a freshman.  I was 5"7 and weighed 165.  I had to do something about getting bigger, stronger, and faster.  I started talking to teammates about what I could take in order to gain some mass.  They told me to try this product called "MassTabs," which three years later after taking it I wish I would have talked to a professional first.  

For those that don't know what MassTabs are they act as a testosterone booster.  This dramatically increases your size and strength if taken correctly.  The only downside to taking this product is that you have to cycle off of it with an anti-estrogen pill.  The reason being is men produce testosterone naturally, and when you add more on top of that it can be stored as estrogen.  Estrogen is a hormone that women produce.  Well, I didn't cycle off of this product correctly.  I got this very painful lump under my breast, which was due to it turning into estrogen.  I still to this day have that lump.  Sometimes if your lucky it will go away on its own, but for most people they have to get it surgically removed.

Here's what it may look like.  Many professional bodybuilders have this problem.  It looks like their nipple is puffed out from their body.  The medical term for this is "Gynecomastia."  Luckily for me, it is very hard to see on my body.  

That is just one personal experience that I have had with taking supplements.  I have never touched a testosterone booster since that day.  Word of advice: consult your physician before taking anything new, and don't be naive and think you know it all.  

Here's a link from ABC news that everyone should read.  It deals with athlete's being pressured to take supplements to increase performance, without knowing the consequences and side effects.

Need Supplement Advice?

When most people begin lifting weights and working out they wonder if they should take supplements.  I know as a college student I was encouraged to gain weight during football season, and one of the easiest ways to do this was by taking supplements.

Supplements aren't only used to gain muscle and weight, but they can be used to cut fat and decrease chances of major health issues.

Many people are nervous when putting foreign things in their body, because you never know what the side effects might be. Let me tell you from experience, BE CAREFUL when putting anything in your body.  The best advice I have before starting anything new is to consult your doctor.  Many supplements may interact with other medications you may be currently on.   

Maybe with a better understanding on supplements and your own goals in mind, you can make better-educated decisions when selecting products.  Hope this helps! 

Fighting The War On Fat

I know eating healthy can be a difficult thing when you get into college.  You feel as if there isn't any time and your constantly on the go, which is pretty much true.  The cafeteria plan sets you up for disaster as soon as you move in.  Ever heard of the freshman 15, well that's what they are talking about.  You lose yourself in all of the indulgences such as the fried foods, ice cream, cookies, cake, and much more. I know this because I was once in the same predicament.  But what if I told you there were a few simple things that you could do to decrease fat intake.  I was currently reading an article on Muscle Fitness, and came across 16 ways in which you can accomplish this goal.  Here are a select few that I found beneficial.

EATING.  5-6 small meals a day as opposed to "three squares" causes your metabolism to work constantly.  Eating larger meals, however, slows your metabolism and forces leftover calories to be stored as fat.

EAT PROTEIN.  Since muscle-building is the fastest route to slim down, make sure your protein consumption is enough to keep up with your weight training. Eat too little and your gains could be slower. Get 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight per day to help your muscle gains along. Use protein bars and shakes to supplement your whole-food consumption and stave off cravings.


CUT OUT SODA.  Instead, rely on water and other flavored drinks like Crystal Light to get your fluids every day. If you drink one soda per day, you’re adding 1,750 calories per week to your diet. Also, studies have shown that those who regularly consume diet sodas tend to gain weight in the long run because of over-indulgences elsewhere.


CARB SMART.  Keep your carbohydrates low to moderate when trying to lose weight. If you rotate low- and high-carb days, you’ll be able to keep your energy levels up while running a caloric deficit. Good, clean, fiber-rich carbs include oats, potatoes, rice and whole-grain bread. Also, limit high-carb drinks like fruit juice to postworkout, when your body needs carbs to speed recovery.


GO NUTS!  Looking for a healthy snack? Eating a handful of almonds helped test subjects lose 62% more weight, 56% more fat and 50% more from their waistline after 24 weeks compared to those who followed the same diet without almonds.


To read more on how to decrease fat check out the Muscle & Fitness Link:  16 Ways to Fight Fat:  Nutrition